September 28, Susan G Komen Race for the Cure (Breast Cancer)
If anyone wants to suggest a Slogging fest where they live, send me a date. My hesitation for choosing something in south bay or in the valley is that I would be sad if I got up at 5am to make it to a race in that area and I was the only Slogger to attend. If I'm going to be on my own, I might as well do it closer to home and sleep longer. I'm more than happy to join others, though. More can be found on www.trifind.com
I can conquer the world I feel renewed. We're moved. (not unpacked). The kitchen is functional. I have a cat to fulfill the roll of fuzzy management. I have a lot of "big think" going on in my brain. It must be my excitement for life burbling up within. Then I was planning a pedicure for Sunday (my toes are covered in all the colors we've been painting the house!) and it coincided with a "therapy pedicure" for someone else which started to became a cup of coffee but then turned into a pitcher of margaritas.
The pedicure rocked. I feel unstoppable. Everyone knows that nothing says, "I can take over the universe!" like a great pedicure.
The Goal I jumped on the scale. I have 40 lbs to lose to get back to my happy, healthy, strong, butt kicking, cardio-crushing, endurance athlete place. That is a big number, but I've done bigger.
That's not bad news. I lost weight in Hawaii, came home, moved, flew to LA for a funeral, came home and moved some more, and have been living off microwave mac'n'cheese (which I hate to admit, but I am not tired of it! YUM!... what is WRONG with me?). I'm hovering at the same high weight I was at a few months ago. So all is not lost, things are not completely out of control and I have clothes that fit.
Three months to your Best Body Courtesy of Oxygen Magazine Those of us who yo-yo up and down in our weight know the mental landscape is the biggest war field. I went on to Oxygen magazine's website looking for inspiration and I've decided to throw myself into their "best body in 3 months" program. They provide a grocery list and the first week of work outs are bodyweight and can be done at home. If you are curious, search Oxygen magazine (not the television channel) and it's on their website.
Planning is succeeding I went to the grocery store very late last night and this morning I'm cooking, doing laundry and getting ready for work. I've decided to save my 45 minute work out for when I get home because Miss E has been expressing the desire to work out with me and I want to work it into our normal day together. It's a body weight program you can do at home (lunges, crunches, push ups, etc). Besides, I'd like to do it on my pool deck, in my yard and breathing the fresh air of freedom without getting brain freeze (it's dastardly cold out).
What does success look like?" If I stay true to this, I wonder what the changes will look like? Will our hero escape the clutches of Microwave Dinner Trap and lose 20 lbs in 12 weeks? Or will she succumb and then get brain freeze from Professor Cold Front? Will her cat come down from his tree and help or is he secretly in league with Captain Calories or does he have an agenda of his own? If she uses the Oxygen plan, will she drop in size and not weight?
To be continued. Find out next time at the same Death Raven Channel.
We are trying to reach out to as many people as possible as quickly as possible. While my membership to a zillion WK Yahoo groups is pending, I'm seeking other avenues of getting the word out. Please feel free to forward this. I'm a luddite hiding behind only 1-2 e-formums and my boyfriend is MORE ludditey. TGIF -
****************** From the King and Queen of the West, Obadiah and Ascelin
Unto our Populace, Peers, Local Groups, Kingdom Guilds, Pillars of the West and all who shelter under the mantle of the West Kingdom,
We have declared that this March Crown will be open to all who wish to temper the steel of our next king with their mighty blows. Thus the first section of the tournament will be a round robin of six fields open to all authorized fighters. Those who wish to test the might of the contenders for crown may do so as a hammer forges a sword. A single overall victor shall be announced on each field. The two contenders for crown with the best record in their robin robin shall advance to the double elimination portion of the list. Those fighters who do not wish to contend for the crown may retire knowing that they have tested the worth of the crown contenders and added to the renown of the West.
With a such a mighty field of combatants, our officers and volunteers will be in great need of aid. We ask that all who are able give of their services to our Lists Mistress, Earl Marshal and Green Cloak Herald so that this day will progress as smoothly as all crown lists.
We specifically ask that our Peers, Pillars of the West, Guards, Artisans, and Courtiers lend themselves to the aid of our officers to make this Crown a magnificent spectacle. So little as two hours of time can make all of the difference for the success of an event whether that service is during the Round Robin or later during the day.
Additionally, shade and tables are needed for the Lists keepers. If you have the ability to host a list table in your sunshade, are able to provide a small sunshade, or are able to provide a table, please reach out to us or Duchess Meghan, Mistress of the Lists, so that this can be coordinated.
In our district it's the first day. The kids are loaded up with supplies, both for themselves and the classroom. I feel like I should send a therapy-box of chocolates to each teacher along with a Costco sized bottle/jar of ibuprofen and a meditation CD.
Or just a bottle of Jack?
Anyway, heartfelt sympathy to all the teachers who are wrangling kids after a long summer break.
Habits... how much of our relationships are built on habits? Do we always pick on the same person? treat certain people with admiration? fear the same people? label the same people as cool? uncool? geek? clown? intellectual? How many of our interactions are based on a history that turns perception into assumption and then expectation.
I think humans are only human. We get used to treating someone a certain way and don't understand a shift in dynamics when it occurs. We see the the kid that always gets picked who later seems to attract mockery. Or how we identify the "smart kid" and even if they are spouting average information, we are inclined to think that they are smart.
At what point do we internalize the external perception placed on us by others? Do we rise and/or fall to fullfill expectations? What do we have to go through to change the internalized belief? What if I don't want to be the class clown? or the "bad influence"?
And once we change on the inside, how do we change the perception of others?
What changes us? An awakening. A life changing event. And how do we recognize it in someone else? Especially since as adults we tend to think we are wiser, but maybe we are really just more set in our ways and less likely to recognize change when it's in our faces.
Suppose the class wimp becomes, like the Karate Kid, an ass-kicking superstar? What if you don't do karate and didn't know there was a tournament, how will you recognize the change? You won't unless you were the one stealing his lunch money and then it will be when your face connects with the ground and you don't remember being thrown to the floor. That would be a clue. And if you were nearby when the lunch money was being taken and see the ass-kicking, that would be a clue. Other than that, your chance to change your perception might only happen if you heard about the tournament or the bully smack-down.
Change is good. We should reinvent ourselves every so often. My dusty memory seems to recall that Ben Franklin (or some other intellectual who was important) indicated that we should have a revolution in the US on some routine basis. (Was it every 100 years?) I don't recall the details with my Swiss cheese memory, but conceptually it's good to shake up expectations and juice the brain into thinking new thoughts and questioning perceptions.
In other words, suck it up, Cupcake. Buy a clue or your face will meet the pavement.
I've been slacking. I haven't gained any weight (well, maybe 2 lb, but I'm so used to shooting up 5-10 lb, 2 feels super-manageble. I can cut out wheat and lose that 2 lb.)
So...
Monday, Gym; sprint intervals and upper body Tuesday, Day of Rest Wednesday, slow work before fighter practice, then fighter practice (Hello Bruise-a-palooza!) Thursday, Training Session with Captain Optimism. We did max reps on my upper body. My chest hurts like I've got a super duper squeezy sport bra on. I don't, it's just the pain. Today... well, I slept through my morning window, but I have kids tonight, so maybe we go to the gym on our way home and they play in Kids club while I hit the weights and do Core. Saturday, long run Sunday, short run, Core
I feel great. Walking outside has been fabulous in this weather.
Fast food doesn't have to mean Junk food.
Sitting through a meeting yesterday, two of us brought our "fast food lunches". My friend Mike had left work to drive through a McD and get burger and fries. MY fast food was a yougurt, 2 cuties, an apple,a cheese stick and a low fat granola bar (I pack the bars for "just in case"; they are the optional item I leave off if my body isn't that hungry). I think my body loves me more than Mike's body loves him!
When I'm thinking fast food, I walk through the grocery fruit stand and dairy section grabbing ready to eat stuff. IMO, it may take a few more minutes than sitting in line at a burger joint, but if that's the difference between hardening an artery and how healthy I feel after eating well, then I'm in! Sometimes there aren't enough calories for me in that so I grab a can of soup (I like zesty gumbo stuff) or a lemon and some fake crab from the meat counter. A disposable zip lock container can be used to toss, store and eat from plus I keep a box of disposable spoons in the front of my car. (Everyone who gets in my car sees the spoons and gives me a "look" and says, 'Spoons?' LOL. But it works for my on-the-go lifestyle).
This is the easiest season to avoid junk food. Strawberries are in season. That's my impulse buy at the check out. Cuties are in, too, and I slip a few of those in my coat pocket for when the urge strikes. Strawberries and cuties are so much yummier than candy bars, have no fat, and their sugar boost isn't followed by the same kind of crash as a candy bar.
I love living in the Bay Area. So many healthy options all year round. Yay Nutrition.
